Method and apparatus for semi-persistent scheduling and configured grant configurations

ABSTRACT

Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for semi-persistent scheduling and configured grant transmission configurations. An example method, which is performed by a communication device, includes the steps of: transmitting, to a user equipment (UE), a radio resource control (RRC) signal or activation downlink control information (DCI) signal for semi-persistent scheduling (SPS) or configured grant (CG) transmission configuration; and transmitting, to the UE, a physical layer control signal comprising an indication of one or more parameters for SPS or CG transmission.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. Non-Provisional Pat.Application No. 16/937,551, filed Jul. 23, 2020, which claims priorityto and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Pat. Application No. 62/881,266filed on Jul. 31, 2019, the entire content of these documents beingincorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to methods and apparatuses forsemi-persistent scheduling (SPS) and configured grant (CG)configurations.

BACKGROUND

In some wireless communication systems, a user equipment (UE) wirelesslycommunicates with a base station to send electronic signals to the basestation or to receive electronic signals from the base station. Theelectronic signals may contain data or messages. A wirelesscommunication from a UE to a base station is referred to as an uplinkcommunication or uplink transmission. A wireless communication from abase station to a UE is referred to as a downlink communication ordownlink transmission.

Resources are required to perform uplink and downlink communications.For example, a UE may wirelessly transmit data to a base station in anuplink transmission at a particular frequency, or during a particularslot in time. The frequency and time slot used are examples of resources(sometimes referred to as time-frequency resources).

Some wireless communication systems may support grant-based uplinktransmissions. That is, if a UE wants to transmit data to a basestation, the UE first requests the appropriate uplink resources from thebase station. Once the base station has granted the requested uplinkresources, the UE sends the uplink transmission using the granted uplinkresources. An example of uplink resources that may be granted by thebase station is a set of time-frequency locations in an uplinkorthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA) frame.

Some wireless communication systems may support configured grant (CG)uplink transmissions. That is, a UE may send uplink transmissions usingcertain uplink resources possibly shared with other UEs, withoutspecifically requesting use of the resources and without specificallybeing granted the resources by the base station. A configured grantuplink transmission does not need a dynamic and explicit schedulinggrant from the base station. A configured grant transmission is alsosometimes known as a grant-free (GF) transmission.

A configured grant uplink transmission may be configured by radioresource control (RRC) signaling messages. The RRC signaling message mayinclude one or more parameters, including one or more sets ofparameters, for one or more UEs in order to pre-configure a configuredgrant uplink transmission.

Emerging 5G (e.g., New Radio or “NR”) technology may be adapted forUltra-Reliable Low Latency Communication (URLLC) and massive MachineType Communications (mMTC). For example, factory automation involving alarge number of UEs per cell generally demands a combination of highreliability and low latency, i.e. URLLC, which relies on technologiesspecified in the 3rd Generation Partnership Project TechnicalSpecification (3GPP TS) 38.331, and 3GPP TS38.321. In addition, Uplink(UL) configured grant (CG) transmission is specified in 3GPP TS 38.331Release 15 (“R15”) and referred to as configured grant type 1. UL SPStransmission is also specified in R15 and referred to as configuredgrant type 2.

Vehicle to everything (V2X) refers to a category of communicationsscenarios (along with their corresponding technical challenges),including communication between a vehicle and another vehicle (V2V),vehicle to infrastructure (V2I), vehicle to pedestrian (V2P), and manyother scenarios. In a V2X scenario, the transmission can be done througha link between the network and a UE, such as uplink (UL) and downlink(DL), or a sidelink (SL) between one UE and another UE. UE cooperationcan be used to enhance the reliability, throughput, and capacity of V2Xcommunications, as well as next generation wireless communications ingeneral. SPS transmissions and CG transmissions may take place over asidelink, for example between two UEs. Channel conditions and otherparameters may change over time, more quickly than they are updated byRRC signaling, potentially causing a loss of efficiency due to the useof outdated configurations. However, signaling to dynamically update CGparameters can consume valuable bandwidth resources and may result ininefficient resource usage or loss of reliability, within the intervalbetween configuration signaling, so improvements are desired.

SUMMARY

Example embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method andapparatus for communication between a communication device, such anaccess point or a wireless transmitting station, and multiple wirelessreceiving stations or devices.

In one aspect, a method for semi-persistent scheduling (SPS) andconfigured grant (CG) transmission parameters is provided. The method,which is performed by a communication device, includes the steps of:transmitting, to a user equipment (UE), a radio resource control (RRC)signal or activation downlink control information (DCI) signal forsemi-persistent scheduling (SPS) or configured grant (CG) transmissionconfiguration; and transmitting, to the UE, a physical layer controlsignal including an indication of one or more parameters for SPS or CGtransmission. A high spectral efficiency may be achieved by including alimited number of parameters in this physical layer control signal,similar to the spectral efficiency achieved by dynamic scheduling grant,but without drawbacks caused by UE-specific DCI overhead and physicaldownlink control channel (PDCCH) blocking that are often encounteredwith dynamic-scheduling grant.

In some embodiments, the one or more parameters include at least one ofa modulation and coding scheme (MCS), a time resource allocation, and afrequency resource allocation. In these embodiments, because otherparameters, such as virtual resource block-to-physical resource block(VRB to PRB) mapping, PRB bundling size indicator, and rate matchingindictor, that are not strongly affected by variance in the underlyingwireless channel, have been already transmitted via the previous RRC orDCI signal, the payload size of the message in the physical layercontrol signal, which can be a group DCI message, is small compared tothe typical DCI signal sent in a SPS transmission in 3GPP TS 38.331Release 15 (“R15”) or 3GPP TS 38.331 Release 16 (“R16”).

In some embodiments, at least one of the RRC signal and the activationDCI signal, and the physical layer control signal are used by the UE todecode a message sent in a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) orto transmit a message through a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH).

In some embodiments, the RRC signal includes a downlink (DL)semi-persistent scheduling (SPS) configuration information element (IE).

In some embodiments, the RRC signal includes an uplink (UL) configuredgrant (CG) IE.

In some embodiments, the physical layer control signal includes a CyclicRedundancy Check (CRC) portion that is scrambled with a ConfiguredScheduling (CS)-Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RNTI) or an RNTIspecifically for the physical layer control signal.

In some embodiments, the physical layer control signal is transmitted ingroup-common physical resources.

In some embodiments, the physical layer control signal includes aplurality of blocks, where each of the plurality of blocks correspondsto a respective UE from a plurality of UEs, and includes a respectiveindication for at least one parameter for the respective UE, or at leastone indication that indicates a plurality of parameters for therespective UE.

In some embodiments, a block from the plurality of blocks includes Xnumber of bits, where X is 1, 2 or 3.

In some embodiments, the size of a block, e.g., the number of bits, canbe determined by a total number of parameters configured in the RRCsignal or the activation DCI signal for the respective UE.

In some embodiments, the one or more parameters include at least one ofthe following parameters: time domain resource allocation, number ofantenna ports, DeModulation Reference Signal (DMRS) sequenceinitialization, CSI request, downlink power offset, and transport blocksize (TBS), transmit power control (TPC) command for scheduled PUSCH,precoding information, a number of layers, number of antenna ports, atime offset for transmission opportunity.

In some embodiments, the RRC signal or the activation DCI signalincludes at least one of the following parameters: time domain resourceallocation, number of antenna ports, DeModulation Reference Signal(DMRS) sequence initialization, CSI request, downlink power offset, andtransport block size (TBS).

In some embodiments, the RRC signal or activation DCI signal furtherincludes at least one of the following parameters: time domain resourceallocation, transmit power control (TPC) command for scheduled PUSCH,precoding information, a number of layers, number of antenna ports, atime offset for transmission opportunity.

In some embodiments, the indication for the one or more parameters inthe physical layer control signal includes an index of one set frommultiple sets of the one or more parameters.

In some embodiments, the indication for one or more parameters includesan absolute value for at least one of the one or more parameters.

In some embodiments, the indication for one or more parameters includesan incremental or decrement value for at least one of the one or moreparameters.

In another aspect, a communication device is disclosed. Thecommunication device including: a transceiver for sending or receiving aSPS or CG transmission; and a processing unit coupled to thetransceiver, the processing unit being configured to executeinstructions to cause the communication device to perform any one of theabove mentioned methods.

In some embodiments, the communication device is a base station.

In some embodiments, the communication device is a user device.

In yet another aspect, an electronic device (ED) is disclosed. The EDincludes: a transceiver for sending or receiving a wirelesssemi-persistent scheduling (SPS) or configured grant (CG) transmission;and a processing unit coupled to the transceiver, the processing unitbeing configured to execute instructions to: receive a radio resourcecontrol (RRC) or activation DCI signal for SPS or CG transmissionconfiguration; receive a physical layer control signal including anindication of one or more parameters for SPS or CG configuration; anddecode a message sent in a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH), ortransmit a message through a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH),based on at least one of the RRC signal and the activation DCI signaland the physical layer control signal.

In some embodiments, the one or more parameters include at least one ofa modulation and coding scheme (MCS) and a frequency resourceallocation.

In some embodiments, the RRC signal includes a downlink (DL)semi-persistent scheduling (SPS) configuration information element (IE).

In some embodiments, the RRC signal includes an uplink (UL) configuredgrant (CG) IE.

In some embodiments, the physical layer control signal includes a CyclicRedundancy Check (CRC) portion that is scrambled with a ConfiguredScheduling (CS)-Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RNTI) or an RNTIspecifically for the physical layer control signal.

In some embodiments, the physical layer control signal is transmitted ingroup-common physical resources.

In some embodiments, the physical layer control signal includes aplurality of blocks, where each of the plurality of blocks correspondsto a respective UE from a plurality of UEs, and includes a respectiveindication for each of the one or more parameters for the respective UE,or at least one indication that indicates a plurality of parameters forthe respective UE.

In some embodiments, the block has a size determined by a total numberof parameters configured in the RRC signal or the activation DCI signalfor the respective UE.

In some embodiments, the one or more parameters include at least one ofthe following parameters: time domain resource allocation, number ofantenna ports, DeModulation Reference Signal (DMRS) sequenceinitialization, CSI request, downlink power offset, and transport blocksize (TBS), transmit power control (TPC) command for scheduled PUSCH,precoding information, a number of layers, number of antenna ports, atime offset for transmission opportunity.

In some embodiments, the RRC signal or the activation DCI signalincludes at least one of the following parameters: time domain resourceallocation, number of antenna ports, DeModulation Reference Signal(DMRS) sequence initialization, CSI request, downlink power offset, andtransport block size (TBS).

In some embodiments, the RRC signal or activation DCI signal includes atleast one of the following parameters: time domain resource allocation,transmit power control (TPC) command for scheduled PUSCH, precodinginformation, a number of layers, number of antenna ports, a time offsetfor transmission opportunity.

In some embodiments, the value for the one or more parameters in thephysical layer control signal includes an index of one set from multiplesets of the one or more parameters.

In some embodiments, the value for one or more parameters includes anabsolute value for at least one of the one or more parameters.

In some embodiments, the value for one or more parameters includes anincremental or decrement value for at least one of the one or moreparameters.

In yet another aspect, a method performed by a communication device isprovided, the method comprising: transmitting, to a user equipment (UE),a radio resource control (RRC) signal or activation downlink controlinformation (DCI) signal for semi-persistent scheduling (SPS) orconfigured grant (CG) transmission configuration; and transmitting, tothe UE, a physical layer control signal comprising an indication of oneor more parameters for SPS or CG transmission, the physical layercontrol signal comprising a Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) portion thatis scrambled with a Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RNTI)specifically for the physical layer control signal, the one or moreparameters comprising at least one of a modulation and coding scheme(MCS) and a frequency resource allocation, wherein the physical layercontrol signal is a group-common physical signalling.

In some embodiments, the MCS value is sent in a modulation and codingscheme field in the RRC signal or the activation DCI signal thatdetermines a modulation order and a target code rate based on apredefined table from a plurality of predefined tables, wherein thepredefined table from the plurality of predefined tables is determinedbased on the MCS value in the RRC and activation DCI signal.

In some embodiments, at least one of the RRC signal and the activationDCI signal, and the physical layer control signal are used by the UE todecode a message sent in a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) orto transmit a message through a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH).

In some embodiments, the RRC signal comprises a downlink (DL)semi-persistent scheduling (SPS) configuration information element (IE)or an uplink (UL) configured grant (CG) IE.

In some embodiments, the physical layer control signal comprises aplurality of blocks, wherein each of the plurality of blocks correspondsto a respective UE from a plurality of UEs, and comprises a respectiveindication for at least one parameter for the respective UE, or at leastone indication that indicates a plurality of parameters for therespective UE.

In some embodiments, the one or more parameters comprise at least one ofthe following parameters: time domain resource allocation, number ofantenna ports, DeModulation Reference Signal (DMRS) sequenceinitialization, CSI request, downlink power offset, and transport blocksize (TBS), transmit power control (TPC) command for scheduled PUSCH,precoding information, a number of layers, number of antenna ports, atime offset for transmission opportunity.

In some embodiments, the indication for the one or more parameters inthe physical layer control signal comprises one set from multiple setsof the one or more parameters, and wherein the one set is for a selectedavailable MCS, the selected available MCS being indicated by a number ofbits in the RRC or the activation DCI signal, the number of bits beingless than another number of bits for indicating the multiple sets, themultiple sets being all available MCS.

In yet another aspect, a communication device is provided, thecommunication device comprising: a transceiver; and a processing unitcoupled to the transceiver, the processing unit being configured toexecute instructions to cause the transceiver to: transmit to a userequipment (UE), a radio resource control (RRC) signal or activationdownlink control information (DCI) signal for semi-persistent scheduling(SPS) or configured grant (CG) transmission configuration; and transmitto the UE, a physical layer control signal comprising an indication ofone or more parameters for SPS or CG transmission, the physical layercontrol signal comprising a Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) portion thatis scrambled with a Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RNTI)specifically for the physical layer control signal, the one or moreparameters comprising at least one of a modulation and coding scheme(MCS) and a frequency resource allocation, wherein the physical layercontrol signal is a group-common physical signalling.

In some embodiments, the MCS value is sent in a modulation and codingscheme field in the RRC signal or the activation DCI signal thatdetermines a modulation order and a target code rate based on apredefined table from a plurality of predefined tables, wherein thepredefined table from the plurality of predefined tables is determinedbased on the MCS value in the RRC and activation DCI signal.

In some embodiments, at least one of the RRC signal and the activationDCI signal, and the physical layer control signal are used by the UE todecode a message sent in a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) orto transmit a message through a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH).

In some embodiments, the RRC signal comprises a downlink (DL)semi-persistent scheduling (SPS) configuration information element (IE)or an uplink (UL) configured grant (CG) IE.

In some embodiments, the physical layer control signal comprises aplurality of blocks, wherein each of the plurality of blocks correspondsto a respective UE from a plurality of UEs, and comprises a respectiveindication for at least one parameter for the respective UE, or at leastone indication that indicates a plurality of parameters for therespective UE.

In some embodiments, the one or more parameters comprise at least one ofthe following parameters: time domain resource allocation, number ofantenna ports, DeModulation Reference Signal (DMRS) sequenceinitialization, CSI request, downlink power offset, and transport blocksize (TBS), transmit power control (TPC) command for scheduled PUSCH,precoding information, a number of layers, number of antenna ports, atime offset for transmission opportunity.

In some embodiments, the indication for the one or more parameters inthe physical layer control signal comprises one set from multiple setsof the one or more parameters, and wherein the one set is for a selectedavailable MCS, the selected available MCS being indicated by a number ofbits in the RRC or the activation DCI signal, the number of bits beingless than another number of bits for indicating the multiple sets, themultiple sets being all available MCS.

In yet another aspect, a method performed by a communication device isprovide, the method comprising: receiving by a user equipment (UE), aradio resource control (RRC) signal or activation downlink controlinformation (DCI) signal for semi-persistent scheduling (SPS) orconfigured grant (CG) transmission configuration; and receiving by theUE, a physical layer control signal comprising an indication of one ormore parameters for SPS or CG transmission, the physical layer controlsignal comprising a Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) portion that isscrambled with a Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RNTI) specificallyfor the physical layer control signal, the one or more parameterscomprising at least one of a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) and afrequency resource allocation, wherein the physical layer control signalis a group-common physical signalling.

In some embodiments, the physical layer control signal comprises aplurality of blocks, wherein each of the plurality of blocks correspondsto a respective UE from a plurality of UEs, and comprises a respectiveindication for at least one parameter for the respective UE, or at leastone indication that indicates a plurality of parameters for therespective UE.

In some embodiments, the indication for the one or more parameters inthe physical layer control signal comprises one set from multiple setsof the one or more parameters, and wherein the one set is for a selectedavailable MCS, the selected available MCS being indicated by a number ofbits in the RRC or the activation DCI signal, the number of bits beingless than another number of bits for indicating the multiple sets, themultiple sets being all available MCS.

In yet another aspect, a communication device is provided, thecommunication device comprising: a transceiver; and a processing unitcoupled to the transceiver, the processing unit being configured toexecute instructions to cause the transceiver to: receive by a userequipment (UE), a radio resource control (RRC) signal or activationdownlink control information (DCI) signal for semi-persistent scheduling(SPS) or configured grant (CG) transmission configuration; and receiveby the UE, a physical layer control signal comprising an indication ofone or more parameters for SPS or CG transmission, the physical layercontrol signal comprising a Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) portion thatis scrambled with a Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RNTI)specifically for the physical layer control signal, the one or moreparameters comprising at least one of a modulation and coding scheme(MCS) and a frequency resource allocation, wherein the physical layercontrol signal is a group-common physical signalling.

In some embodiments, the physical layer control signal comprises aplurality of blocks, wherein each of the plurality of blocks correspondsto a respective UE from a plurality of UEs, and comprises a respectiveindication for at least one parameter for the respective UE, or at leastone indication that indicates a plurality of parameters for therespective UE.

In some embodiments, the indication for the one or more parameters inthe physical layer control signal comprises one set from multiple setsof the one or more parameters, and wherein the one set is for a selectedavailable MCS, the selected available MCS being indicated by a number ofbits in the RRC or the activation DCI signal, the number of bits beingless than another number of bits for indicating the multiple sets, themultiple sets being all available MCS.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanyingdrawings which show example embodiments of the present application, andin which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an example communication systemsuitable for implementing examples described herein;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are block diagrams showing an example electronic deviceand an example base station, respectively, suitable for implementingexamples described herein;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example method performed by a basestation for a SPS or CG configuration in accordance with an exampleembodiment; and

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example method performed by a userequipment for a SPS or CG configuration in accordance with an exampleembodiment.

Similar reference numerals may have been used in different figures todenote similar components.

DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example communication system 100 in whichembodiments of the present disclosure could be implemented. In general,the communication system 100 enables multiple wireless or wired elementsto communicate data and other content. The communication system 100 mayenable content (e.g., voice, data, video, or text) to be communicated(e.g., via broadcast, narrowcast, or user device to user device) amongentities of the system 100. The communication system 100 may operate bysharing resources such as bandwidth.

In this example, the communication system 100 includes user devices (ED)110 a-110 c (which may be generically referred to as ED 110), radioaccess networks (RANs) 120 a-120 b (generically referred to as RAN 120),a core network 130, a public switched telephone network (PSTN) 140, theinternet 150, and other networks 160. Although certain numbers of thesecomponents or elements are shown in FIG. 1 , any reasonable number ofthese components or elements may be included in the communication system100.

The EDs 110 are configured to operate, communicate, or both, in thecommunication system 100. For example, the EDs 110 are configured totransmit, receive, or both via wireless or wired communication channels.Each ED 110 represents any suitable end user device for wirelessoperation and may include such devices (or may be referred to) as a userequipment or device (UE), a wireless transmitting or receiving unit(WTRU), a mobile station, a fixed or mobile subscriber unit, a cellulartelephone, a station (STA), a machine type communication (MTC) device, apersonal digital assistant (PDA), a smartphone, a laptop, a computer, atablet, a wireless sensor, or a consumer electronics device, among otherpossibilities.

In FIG. 1 , the RANs 120 include base stations (BS’s) 170 a,170 b (whichmay be generically referred to as BS 170), respectively. Each BS 170 a,170 b is configured to wirelessly interface with one or more of the EDs110 to enable access to any other BS 170, the core network 130, the PSTN140, the internet 150, or the other networks 160. For example, the BS170 s may include (or be) one or more of several well-known devices,such as a base transceiver station (BTS), a radio base station, a Node-B(NodeB), an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), a Home eNodeB, a gNodeB (sometimescalled a “gigabit” Node B or a “gNB”), a transmission point (TP), atransmit and receive point (TRP), a site controller, an access point(AP), or a wireless router, among other possibilities. Any ED 110 may bealternatively or additionally configured to interface, access, orcommunicate with any other BS 170, the internet 150, the core network130, the PSTN 140, the other networks 160, or any combination of thepreceding. The communication system 100 may include RANs, such as RAN120 b, where the corresponding BS170b accesses the core network 130 viathe internet 150, as shown.

The EDs 110 and BS’s 170 a, 170 b are examples of communicationequipment that can be configured to implement some or all of thefunctionality or embodiments described herein. In the embodiment shownin FIG. 1 , the BS 170 a forms part of the RAN 120 a, which may includeother BS’s, base station controller(s) (BSC), radio networkcontroller(s) (RNC), relay nodes, elements, or devices. Any BS 170 a,170 b may be a single element, as shown, or multiple elements,distributed in the corresponding RAN, or otherwise. Also, the BS 170 bforms part of the RAN 120 b, which may include other BS’s, elements, ordevices. Each BS 170 a, 170 b transmits or receives wireless signalswithin a particular geographic region or area, sometimes referred to asa “cell” or “coverage area”. A cell may be further divided into cellsectors, and a BS 170 a, 170 b may, for example, employ multipletransceivers to provide service to multiple sectors. In someembodiments, there may be established pico or femto cells where theradio access technology supports such. In some embodiments, multipletransceivers could be used for each cell, for example usingmultiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) technology. The number of RANs 120shown is exemplary only. Any number of RANs may be contemplated whendevising the communication system 100.

The BS’s 170 a, 170 b communicate with one or more of the EDs 110 overone or more air interfaces 190 using wireless communication links (e.g.radio frequency (RF), microwave, or infrared). The air interfaces 190may utilize any suitable radio access technology. For example, thecommunication system 100 may implement one or more channel accessmethods, such as code division multiple access (CDMA), time divisionmultiple access (TDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA),orthogonal FDMA (OFDMA), or single-carrier FDMA (SC-FDMA) in the airinterfaces 190.

A BS 170 a, 170 b may implement Universal Mobile TelecommunicationSystem (UMTS) Terrestrial Radio Access (UTRA) to establish an airinterface 190 using wideband CDMA (WCDMA). In doing so, the BS 170 a,170 b may implement protocols such as HSPA, HSPA+ optionally includingHSDPA, HSUPA or both. Alternatively, BS 170 a, 170 b may establish anair interface 190 with Evolved UTMS Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA)using LTE, LTE-A, or LTE-B. It is contemplated that the communicationsystem 100 may use multiple channel access functionality, including suchschemes as described above. Other radio technologies for implementingair interfaces include IEEE 802.11, 802.15, 802.16, CDMA2000, CDMA20001X, CDMA2000 EV-DO, IS-2000, IS-95, IS-856, GSM, EDGE, and GERAN. Ofcourse, other multiple access schemes and wireless protocols may beutilized.

The RANs 120 are in communication with the core network 130 to providethe EDs 110 with various services such as voice, data, and otherservices. The RANs 120 or the core network 130 may be in direct orindirect communication with one or more other RANs (not shown), whichmay or may not be directly served by core network 130, and may or maynot employ the same radio access technology as RAN 120 a, RAN 120 b orboth. The core network 130 may also serve as a gateway access between(i) the RANs 120 or EDs 110 or both, and (ii) other networks (such asthe PSTN 140, the internet 150, and the other networks 160). Inaddition, some or all of the EDs 110 may include functionality forcommunicating with different wireless networks over different wirelesslinks using different wireless technologies or protocols. Instead ofwireless communication (or in addition thereto), the EDs 110 maycommunicate via wired communication channels to a service provider orswitch (not shown), and to the internet 150. PSTN 140 may includecircuit switched telephone networks for providing plain old telephoneservice (POTS). Internet 150 may include a network of computers andsubnets (intranets) or both, and incorporate protocols, such as IP, TCP,UDP. EDs 110 may be multimode devices capable of operation according tomultiple radio access technologies, and incorporate multipletransceivers necessary to support such.

FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate example devices that may implement themethods and teachings according to this disclosure. In particular, FIG.2A illustrates an example ED 110, and FIG. 2B illustrates an examplebase station 170. These components could be used in the communicationsystem 100 or in any other suitable system.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the ED 110 includes at least one processing unit200. The processing unit 200 implements various processing operations ofthe ED 110. For example, the processing unit 200 could perform signalcoding, data processing, power control, input or output processing, orany other functionality enabling the ED 110 to operate in thecommunication system 100. The processing unit 200 may also be configuredto implement some or all of the functionality or embodiments describedin more detail above. Each processing unit 200 includes any suitableprocessing or computing device configured to perform one or moreoperations. Each processing unit 200 could, for example, include amicroprocessor, microcontroller, digital signal processor, fieldprogrammable gate array, or application specific integrated circuit.

The ED 110 also includes at least one transceiver 202. The transceiver202 is configured to modulate data or other content for transmission byat least one antenna or Network Interface Controller (NIC) 204. Thetransceiver 202 is also configured to demodulate data or other contentreceived by the at least one antenna 204. Each transceiver 202 includesany suitable structure for generating signals for wireless or wiredtransmission or processing signals received wirelessly or by wire. Eachantenna 204 includes any suitable structure for transmitting orreceiving wireless or wired signals. One or multiple transceivers 202could be used in the ED 110. One or multiple antennas 204 could be usedin the ED 110. In some examples, one or more antennas 204 may be anarray antenna 204, which may be used to perform beamforming and beamsteering operations. Although shown as a single functional unit, atransceiver 202 could also be implemented using at least one transmitterand at least one separate receiver.

The ED 110 further includes one or more input or output devices 206 orinput or output interfaces (such as a wired interface to the internet150). The input or output device(s) 206 permit interaction with a useror other devices in the network. Each input or output device 206includes any suitable structure for providing information to orreceiving information from a user, such as a speaker, microphone,keypad, keyboard, display, or touchscreen, including network interfacecommunications.

In addition, the ED 110 includes at least one memory 208. The memory 208stores instructions and data used, generated, or collected by the ED110. For example, the memory 208 could store software instructions ormodules configured to implement some or all of the functionality orembodiments described herein and that are executed by the processingunit(s) 200. Each memory 208 includes any suitable volatile ornon-volatile storage and retrieval device(s). Any suitable type ofmemory may be used, such as random access memory (RAM), read only memory(ROM), hard disk, optical disc, subscriber identity module (SIM) card,memory stick, secure digital (SD) memory card, and the like.

As shown in FIG. 2B, the base station 170 includes at least oneprocessing unit 250, at least one transmitter 252, at least one receiver254, one or more antennas 256, at least one memory 258, and one or moreinput or output interfaces 266. A scheduler 253 may be coupled to theprocessing unit 250. The scheduler 253 may be included within oroperated separately from the base station 170. The processing unit 250implements various processing operations of the base station 170, suchas signal coding, data processing, power control, input or outputprocessing, or any other functionality. The processing unit 250 can alsobe configured to implement some or all of the functionality orembodiments described herein. Each processing unit 250 includes anysuitable processing or computing device configured to perform one ormore operations. Each processing unit 250 could, for example, include amicroprocessor, microcontroller, digital signal processor, fieldprogrammable gate array, or application specific integrated circuit.

Each transmitter 252 includes any suitable structure for generatingsignals for wireless or wired transmission to one or more EDs 110 orother devices. Each receiver 254 includes any suitable structure forprocessing signals received wirelessly or by wire from one or more EDs110 or other devices. Although shown as separate components, at leastone transmitter 252 and at least one receiver 254 could be combined intoa transceiver. Each antenna 256 includes any suitable structure fortransmitting or receiving wireless or wired signals. Although a commonantenna 256 is shown here as being coupled to both the transmitter 252and the receiver 254, one or more antennas 256 could be coupled to thetransmitter(s) 252, and one or more separate antennas 256 could becoupled to the receiver(s) 254. In some examples, one or more antennas256 may be an array antenna, which may be used for beamforming and beamsteering operations. Each memory 258 includes any suitable volatile ornon-volatile storage and retrieval device(s) such as those describedabove in connection to the ED 110. The memory 258 stores instructionsand data used, generated, or collected by the base station 170. Forexample, the memory 258 could store software instructions or modulesconfigured to implement some or all of the functionality or embodimentsdescribed herein and that are executed by the processing unit(s) 250.

Each input or output interface 266 permits interaction with a user orother devices in the network. Each input or output interface 266includes any suitable structure for providing information to, orreceiving information from a user, including network interfacecommunications.

Referring back to FIG. 1 , in an example, the ED 110 sends acommunication to the BS 170 over the air interface 190, in a CG uplink(UL) transmission. Generally speaking, based on standards described in3GPP TS38.331, the information element (IE) ConfiguredGrantConfig isused to configure uplink transmission without dynamic grant under one oftwo schemes. The actual uplink transmission may either be configured viaRRC (CG type 1) or provided by both DCI and RRC signaling (CG type 2).In the case of CG type 2, the DCI scrambled by Configured Scheduling(CS)-Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RNTI) is sent through physicaldownlink control channel (PDCCH). If DCI is used to transmit one or moreCG communication parameters and indicate that the ED may perform uplinkCG transmissions, the DCI is known as an activation DCI signal.

A CG UL transmission is an UL transmission (i.e., in the direction fromthe ED 110 to the BS 170) that is sent using UL resources configured byRRC signaling or by transmitting physical layer control information,such as activation DCI, to the ED 110 by the BS 170. A CG ULtransmission does not need a dynamic and explicit scheduling grant fromthe BS 170. In some examples, the BS 170 may similarly send a SPSdownlink (DL) transmission to the ED 110 over the air interface 190. ASPS DL transmission is a DL transmission (i.e., in the direction fromthe BS 170 to the ED 110) that is sent using resources for eachtransmission that are not explicitly scheduled using dynamic signaling.Because CG does not use dynamic scheduling, some communicationparameters such as MCS and frequency resource allocation are configuredby RRC, unlike in grant-based communications. It is contemplated thatthe embodiments disclosed herein may be used in sidelink communication,in which case the RRC signaling would be sent from one ED to one or moreother EDs, and the physical layer control information would be sent fromone ED to one or more other EDs using sidelink control information (SCI)in a physical sidelink control channel (PSCCH).

CG transmissions are sometimes referred to as “grant-lesstransmissions”, “schedule free transmissions”, “schedule-lesstransmissions”, or “configured grant transmissions” (in the sense thatthe resources used for each transmission are semi-statically configuredor indicated by scheduling activation PDCCH but not dynamicallyscheduled).

In a CG UL transmission, different EDs 110 may send UL transmissionsusing UL time-frequency resources shared by the EDs 110, withoutspecifically requesting use of the resources and without dynamicsignaling from BS 170. In some cases, more than one ED 110 may beallocated the same designated resources for CG UL transmissions, inwhich case the CG UL transmissions are contention-based transmissions,because the possibility exists for more than one UEs to contend for useof the same resource. CG UL transmissions may be suitable fortransmitting bursty traffic with short packets from the ED 110 to the BS170, or for transmitting data to the BS 170 in real-time or withlow-latency, such as in the case of Ultra-Reliable Low LatencyCommunication (URLLC). An advantage of CG transmission is low latencyresulting from not having to request and receive a dynamic grant for anallocated time slot from the BS 170. Furthermore, in a CG transmission,the scheduling overhead may be reduced.

The UL resources on which CG UL transmissions are sent may be referredto as “CG UL resources”. The resources that may be used by the EDs 110for CG UL transmission may be preconfigured, for example via usingsemi-static signaling, such as by radio resource control (RRC)signaling. The CG UL resources may be static or may be configuredsemi-statically. Semi-statically configured communication is sometimesreferred to as SPS. A SPS configuration means the configuration isupdated or changed on a relatively long time period, such as once inmany frames or updated only as needed. A semi-static configurationdiffers from a dynamic configuration in that a semi-static configurationdoes not get updated or changed as often as a dynamic configuration. Forexample, a dynamic configuration may be updated or changed everysubframe or slot, or every few subframes or slots (e.g., using dynamicsignaling, such as downlink control information (DCI) signals), and asemi-static configuration may be updated or changed once every severalframes, once every few seconds, or only if needed.

The EDs 110 may process and use the designated set of resourcesspecified in the RRC or DCI signal to send their CG UL transmissions,but the BS 170 does not know which of the EDs 110, if any, are going tosend a CG UL transmission, and using which of the designated resources.

To support CG transmissions, the associated resources configured for anED 110 or a group of EDs 110 can include any, some or all of thefollowing, including combinations thereof: frequency resources, timeresources, reference signal (RS) or RS configuration, hoppingparameters, hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process IDs,modulation and coding schemes (MCSs), number of GF transmissionrepetitions, power control parameters, and other parameters, such asinformation associated with general grant-based data and controltransmissions.

In an example, a physical resource block (PRB) scheme is provided by theRRC or DCI signaling. The PRB scheme may indicate a physical startingfrequency resource block (RB) and size of the RB.

In another example, the RRC or DCI signaling may include time resourcesincluding starting or ending position of a data transmission timeinterval. Time resources can be one symbol, mini-slot, or slot.

In yet another example, each ED 110 can be configured with one or morereference signals (e.g. demodulation reference signals (DMRSs))depending on scenarios involved. For a group of EDs 110, each ED 110 mayor may not have a different RS or have a different set of RSs.

In one example, one or more hopping parameters specific to an ED 110 orgroup of EDs 110, which may include a hopping pattern cycle period(e.g., defined by a time period or by a number of hopping times), can beincluded in the RRC or DCI signaling. Other parameters in the CG ULtransmissions may include a hopping pattern index or indices. Each ED110 may have one or more hopping pattern indices.

In another example, the RRC or DCI signaling may include one or morehybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process IDs per ED 110.

In yet another example, the RRC or DCI signaling may include one or moremodulation and coding schemes (MCSs) per ED 110. The ED 110 can indicateexplicitly or implicitly which MCS to use for a CG transmission.

In one example, the RRC or DCI signaling may include a number of GFtransmission repetitions, which may be represented by K. One or more Kvalues can be configured for an ED 110. Which K value to use may dependon, for example, channel conditions, service types, and so on.

In another example, the RRC or DCI signaling may include power controlparameters, including power ramping step size (e.g., for an ED 110).

Referring again to FIG. 1 , in some embodiments, an ED 110 may operatein grant-based transmission mode and may have dedicated resources formaking a contention-free scheduling request. When the scheduling requestis received by the BS 170, the BS 170 transmits a grant to the ED 110that grants uplink resources for the ED 110 to transmit data via agrant-based uplink transmission. In some embodiments, an ED 110 may senda contention-based scheduling request, e.g. as a configured grant uplinktransmission, as described above. When the contention-based schedulingrequest is received by the BS 170, the BS 170 transmits a grant to theED 110 that grants uplink resources for the ED 110 to transmit data viaa grant-based uplink transmission. Alternatively, in some embodiments,an ED 110 may send a configured grant uplink data transmission to the BS170, via PUSCH. In response, the BS 170 may grant to uplink resourcesfor the ED 110 to transmit additional data via a grant-based uplinktransmission. The additional data may be a retransmission of the data inthe configured grant uplink message. Alternatively, the additional datamay be or include new data that the ED 110 has to transmit to BS 170, inwhich case the configured grant uplink transmission may include a bufferstatus report (BSR) indicating that the ED 110 has additional data tosend.

In all of the different scenarios discussed in the paragraph above, theBS 170 sends a grant to the ED 110. In some embodiments, the grant maybe a semi-persistent grant in the case of semi-persistent scheduling(SPS). A semi-persistent grant is a grant that schedules more than onetransmission, e.g. a pattern of transmissions. As an example, asemi-persistent grant may grant a particular resource hopping pattern orparticular reference signal hopping pattern for a set time or interval,or until the ED 110 receives further signaling. Generally speaking, SPScan be configured or re-configured by an RRC signal at any time using aSPS configuration message SPS-Config. SPS-Config may be referred to asan information element (IE) and includes the configuration forsemiPersistSchedC-RNTI (sps-CRNTI), sps-ConfigDL and sps-ConfigUL. SPScan be configured in either or both UL and DL directions. In someembodiments, after configuration, SPS needs to be activated (e.g. via asubsequent DCI signal) by BS 170 for the ED 110 to start using SPSgrants and assignments.

Under NR Release 15 (as specified in 3GPP TS38.331, and 3GPP TS38.321),the SPS-Config information element is used to configure downlinksemi-persistent transmission. A BS 170 may, via RRC signaling, transmitone or more selected parameters in a SPS configuration message (e.g.SPS-config information element) for each SPS configuration, or in aConfigured Grant (CG) message (e.g. ConfiguredGrantConfig informationelement) for each UL CG configuration. The selected parameters aregenerally related to the wireless channel. For example, when configuredgrant resource configurations are configured for an ED 110 via RRCsignaling only (type 1) or by RRC plus physical layer control signalingsuch as DCI (type 2), the configuration information is provided byactivation DCI sent through physical downlink control channel (PDCCH).Each CG resource configuration may have different parameter values. EachCG resource configuration may include a unique resource configurationindex for the ED 110 in a cell or one network area with multiple cells.For example, each CG resource configuration transmission can include anMCS or frequency resource allocation.

There are several drawbacks with existing SPS or CG resourceconfigurations. For example, DL SPS in R15 or R16 typically needs a DCIsent through PDCCH to activate SPS transmission. In a URLLC scenario,the DCI overhead for large numbers of UEs (e.g. 100 or more) can besignificant. As shown by a simulation, the number of control channelelements (CCEs) for each DCI is at least 4-8, which translate to 24-48resource blocks (RBs) for DCI in NR. Moreover, the scheduling decisionand DCI transmission performed by a base station 170 in the conventionalapproach cause latency for data transmission because the datatransmission is only transmitted after receiving the activation DCIsignal. PDCCH blocking may also occur when there are a large number ofactivation DCI signals on PDCCH, or a large number of DCI signals onPDCCH to schedule retransmissions of previous CG transmission, thatarrive at the same time for a group of UEs.

In addition, in the case of SPS grant or assignment within a wirelesschannel that has highly dynamic characteristics, various channelparameters such as MCS, time or frequency domain resource allocation,and spatial allocation in SPS or CG may need to be updated dynamicallybased on channel conditions, which means that the channel parameters mayneed to be updated more quickly than the update schedule of a SPSconfiguration. This can lead to poor spectral efficiency. In someconventional cases, multiple CG or SPS configurations with differentMCS, or different time and frequency resource domains may be reused toaddress the mismatch between SPS grant or assignment and the dynamicallyvariable wireless channel, for example up to 8 or 12 configurations.However, it can increase complexity and cause potential delay and errorsif an ED 110 has to blindly detect or decode potential datatransmissions using multiple resource configurations even if only onedata transmission is transmitted in a particular time slot.

In some implementations, such as factory automation, nearly 100% of UEsmust meet the reliability and latency requirements, because even one ortwo failures could result in significant costs or loss of productivity.The performance of multiple UEs per cell has been evaluated in asimulation. The table below shows the ratio of UEs satisfying 1 mslatency and 99.9999% reliability.

10 UE per cell 20 UEs per cell 40 UEs per cell DL/GB 96.7% 98% 74% UL/CG90.8% 68% 41%

The performance of multiple UEs in a cell may be improved if the MCS,time domain resource allocation, and frequency domain resourceallocation can be determined and adapted dynamically by the UEs based onthe changing characteristics of their own wireless channel. In addition,even though dynamic scheduling can better capture the wireless channelcharacteristics and support more UEs, UE-specific dynamic grant orassignment requires higher DCI overhead and occupies DL resources whichcan be otherwise used for data transmission.

In some embodiments, considering a group DCI reliability requirement andoverhead, a DCI payload size of the group DCI should be set to be lessthan a certain value. For example, the DCI payload size may be set to 40bits not including Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) bits. However in atleast some cases, 40 bits are not enough for all the resource parametersthat would need to be configured, and it is difficult to update all theparameters in any one of DCI formats 0-1, 1-1, 0-0, 1-1 for datatransmission in one DCI with limited payload size for a group of UEs.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example method 300 performed by acommunication device to achieve a SPS or CG resource configuration. Thecommunication device may be a BS 170 in some embodiments. In otherembodiments, the communication device may be an ED 110 in a sidelinkcontrol communication scenario.

At 302, the communication device transmits a radio resource control(RRC) or DCI signal including one or more parameters for transmissionconfiguration. In some embodiments, the one or more parameters mayinclude at least one of: a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) and afrequency resource allocation. The MCS value may be sent in a modulationand coding scheme field (I_(MCS)) in the RRC or DCI signal to determinea modulation order (Q_(m)) and target code rate (R) based on apredefined table.

At 304, the communication device transmits, through a physical layerchannel, a physical layer control signal including a value for one ormore parameter for transmission configuration. The physical layercontrol signal can be carried in a DCI signal or a sidelink controlinformation (SCI) signal.

In some embodiments, the one or more parameters in the physical layercontrol signal includes at least one of: the modulation and codingscheme (MCS) and the frequency resource allocation.

In some embodiments, the communication device transmits the physicallayer control signal via a physical layer channel such as PDCCH orPUCCH, the control signal may include indication of one or moreparameters which may be updated for SPS or CG configuration. When thetotal number of the one or more parameters included in the physicallayer control signal is relatively small (e.g., only 2 or 3 parameters),the overall size of the message carried by the physical layer controlsignal can be small enough that a high spectral efficiency may beachieved, similar to the spectral efficiency achieved by dynamicscheduling grant, but without drawbacks caused by UE-specific DCIoverhead and physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) blocking that areoften encountered with dynamic-scheduling grant.

In some embodiments, the indication of one or more parameters includesindex of one or more values configured for one or more parameters in theRRC signal. For example, one or more MCS may be assigned an index andincluded in the physical layer control signal, and when only 4 indicesare included (e.g. index of 0-3), only 2 bits are required to indicatethe MCS, which saves signaling overhead compared to the 5 bits requiredto indicate one of 32 values.

In some embodiments, the indication of one or more updated parametersincludes a respective value for at least one of one or more parameters.

In some embodiments, the one or more parameters in the physical layercontrol signal include at least one of the following parameters: timedomain resource allocation, number of antenna ports, DeModulationReference Signal (DMRS) sequence initialization, CSI request, downlinkpower offset, and transport block size (TBS), transmit power control(TPC) command for scheduled PUSCH, precoding information, a number oflayers, number of antenna ports, a time offset for transmissionopportunity.

Using the RRC signal, and the DCI signal in the case of CG type 2, aswell as the control information via the physical layer for the one ormore parameters, an ED 110 such as a UE can decode a message sent in aphysical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) or transmit a message through aphysical uplink shared channel (PUSCH). In this case, because otherparameters, such as virtual resource block-to-physical resource block(VRB to PRB) mapping, PRB bundling size indicator, and rate matchingindictor, that are not strongly affected by variance in the underlyingwireless channel are already transmitted via a previous RRC signal, thepayload size of the subsequent DCI message, which can be a group DCImessage, is thereby small or reduced.

In some embodiments, the physical layer control signal includes a CRCportion that is scrambled with a Configured Scheduling (CS)-RadioNetwork Temporary Identifier (RNTI) or an RNTI specifically for thephysical layer control signal. For example, the RNTI may be one ofTransmit Power Control-PUCCH -RNTI (TPC-PUSCH-RNTI), Transmit PowerControl-PUSCH - RNTI (TPC-PUCCH-RNTI), Transmit Power Control-SoundingReference Symbols - RNTI (TPC-SRS-RNTI), or Semi-Persistent CSI RNTI.Generally speaking, Transmit Power Control RNTI (TPC RNTI) is used foruplink power control purpose. TPC RNTI may be TPC-PUSCH-RNTI,TPC-PUCCH-RNTI or TPC-SRS-RNTI. Normally TPC RNTI is assigned to a groupof UEs. The base station 170 may configure the UE with TPC-PUSCH-RNTI,TPC-PUCCH-RNTI and TPC-SRS-RNTI via higher layer signaling (e.g., RRC).A RNTI can be a 16-bit identifier, and may have a specific value or arange depending on the type of RNTI. Each RNTI and its correspondingvalue or range may be found in 3GPP TS38.321.

The DCI signal includes multiple blocks. Each block may correspond to arespective UE in a group of UEs, and includes an indication of theupdated parameters for the respective UE. Alternatively, two or moreblocks can correspond to a single UE, if the UE is configured withmultiple CG or SPS configurations. A block can have a size of defined byX number of bits. X can be, in some embodiments, determined by a totalnumber of updated parameters for the respective UE. For example, 1 bitof control information may include information for up to two parameters,2 bits of control information may include information for up to fourparameters, 3 bits of control information may include information for upto eight parameters, and so on. For example, there are two states (i.e.,“1” and “0”) represented by 1 bit of control information, the firststate “1” can indicate a first parameter, and the second state “0” canindicate a second parameter.

In some embodiments, if the information carried in the physical layercontrol signal is not received or decoded successfully by the UE, the UEcan use information from the transmitted parameters in the RRC oractivation DCI signal to decode a message sent in a physical downlinkshared channel (PDSCH) or to transmit a message through a physicaluplink shared channel (PUSCH).

In some embodiments, the physical layer control signal is transmitted ingroup-common physical resources, such as in a group-common PDCCH.

In some embodiments, the physical layer control signal includes aplurality of blocks, where each of the plurality of blocks correspondsto a respective UE and includes a respective indication for each of theone or more parameters for the respective UE.

In some embodiments, a block in the plurality of blocks has a size of Xbits, where X can be determined by a total number of parametersconfigured in the RRC signal or the activation DCI signal for therespective UE. For example, 1 bit of control information may includeinformation for up to two parameters, 2 bits of control information mayinclude information for up to four parameters, 3 bits of controlinformation may include information for up to eight parameters, and soon. For example, there are two states (i.e., “1” and “0”) represented by1 bit of control information, the first state “1” can indicate a firstparameter, and the second state “0” can indicate a second parameter.

In some embodiments, the RRC signal includes a downlink (DL)semi-persistent scheduling (SPS) or CG configuration information element(IE). The RRC signal or physical control signal may further includeinformation regarding at least one of the following parameters: timedomain resource allocation, number of antenna ports, DeModulationReference Signal (DMRS) sequence initialization, CSI request, downlinkpower offset, and transport block size (TBS).

MCS, available time and frequency domain resources, and the number oflayers for transmission are used to determine the TBS. Therefore, if aTBS is fixed, and MCS are updated, then at least one of: time domainresource allocation, frequency domain resource allocation, and thenumber of layers may be updated accordingly.

For example, the table below shows index numbers and correspondingexample TBS values for when TBS is less than or equal to 3824.

Index TBS Index TBS Index TBS Index TBS 1 24 31 336 61 1288 91 3624 2 3232 352 62 1320 92 3752 3 40 33 368 63 1352 93 3824 4 48 34 384 64 1416 556 35 408 65 1480 6 64 36 432 66 1544 7 72 37 456 67 1608 8 80 38 480 681672 9 88 39 504 69 1736 10 96 40 528 70 1800 11 104 41 552 71 1864 12112 42 576 72 1928 13 120 43 608 73 2024 14 128 44 640 74 2088 15 136 45672 75 2152 16 144 46 704 76 2216 17 152 47 736 77 2280 18 160 48 768 782408 19 168 49 808 79 2472 20 176 50 848 80 2536 21 184 51 888 81 260022 192 52 928 82 2664 23 208 53 984 83 2728 24 224 54 1032 84 2792 25240 55 1064 85 2856 26 256 56 1128 86 2976 27 272 57 1160 87 3104 28 28858 1192 88 3240 29 304 59 1224 89 3368 30 320 60 1256 90 3496

In some embodiments, the RRC signal includes an uplink (UL) configuredgrant (CG) IE. The RRC signal or DCI signal may further includeinformation regarding at least one of the following parameters: timedomain resource allocation, transmit power control (TPC) command forscheduled PUSCH, precoding information, a number of layers, number ofantenna ports, and a time offset for transmission opportunity.

In some embodiments, the one or more parameters in the physical layercontrol signal may include absolute values for the updated parameters,which can replace the values previously transmitted for thecorresponding parameters in the RRC or DCI signal. A new set of indexesmay be assigned to a subset of available values for MCS Index, as shownin the tables below.

Index MCS Index I_(MCS) 0 Integer A,(0... 31) 1 Integer B,(0... 31) 2Integer C,(0... 31) 3 Integer D,(0... 31)

To determine the modulation order, target code rate in the physicaldownlink shared channel or PUSCH, a UE may first read the modulation andcoding scheme field (I_(MCS)) in the DCI or RRC signaling or physicalcontrol signaling to determine a modulation order (Q_(m)) and targetcode rate (R) based on a table, which may be one of the followingtables. In some embodiments, the UE may determine the correct table touse, for example based on the information in the RRC or activation DCIsignal. In the above example, 4 of the 32 available MCS as shown beloware selected for use in an updated signal (which may be, for example, anupdated DCI signal or physical layer control signal), and are eachassigned an index from 0 to 3. As a result, only 2 bits are required toindicate the updated MCS, which saves signaling overhead compared to the5 bits required to indicate one of 32 values.

Table 1 MCS index for PDSCH MCS Index I_(MCS) Modulation Order Q_(m)Target code Rate R x [1024] Spectral efficiency 0 2 120 0.2344 1 2 1570.3066 2 2 193 0.3770 3 2 251 0.4902 4 2 308 0.6016 5 2 379 0.7402 6 2449 0.8770 7 2 526 1.0273 8 2 602 1.1758 9 2 679 1.3262 10 4 340 1.328111 4 378 1.4766 12 4 434 1.6953 13 4 490 1.9141 14 4 553 2.1602 15 4 6162.4063 16 4 658 2.5703 17 6 438 2.5664 18 6 466 2.7305 19 6 517 3.029320 6 567 3.3223 21 6 616 3.6094 22 6 666 3.9023 23 6 719 4.2129 24 6 7724.5234 25 6 822 4.8164 26 6 873 5.1152 27 6 910 5.3320 28 6 948 5.554729 2 reserved 30 4 reserved 31 6 reserved

Table 2 MCS index for PDSCH MCS Index I_(MCS) Modulation Order Q_(m)Target code Rate R x [1024] Spectral efficiency 0 2 120 0.2344 1 2 1930.3770 2 2 308 0.6016 3 2 449 0.8770 4 2 602 1.1758 5 4 378 1.4766 6 4434 1.6953 7 4 490 1.9141 8 4 553 2.1602 9 4 616 2.4063 10 4 658 2.570311 6 466 2.7305 12 6 517 3.0293 13 6 567 3.3223 14 6 616 3.6094 15 6 6663.9023 16 6 719 4.2129 17 6 772 4.5234 18 6 822 4.8164 19 6 873 5.115220 8 682.5 5.3320 21 8 711 5.5547 22 8 754 5.8906 23 8 797 6.2266 24 8841 6.5703 25 8 885 6.9141 26 8 916.5 7.1602 27 8 948 7.4063 28 2reserved 29 4 reserved 30 6 reserved 31 8 reserved

Table 3 MCS index for PDSCH and PUSCH MCS Index I_(MCS) Modulation OrderQ_(m) Target code Rate R x [1024] Spectral efficiency 0 2 30 0.0586 1 240 0.0781 2 2 50 0.0977 3 2 64 0.1250 4 2 78 0.1523 5 2 99 0.1934 6 2120 0.2344 7 2 157 0.3066 8 2 193 0.3770 9 2 251 0.4902 10 2 308 0.601611 2 379 0.7402 12 2 449 0.8770 13 2 526 1.0273 14 2 602 1.1758 15 4 3401.3281 16 4 378 1.4766 17 4 434 1.6953 18 4 490 1.9141 19 4 553 2.160220 4 616 2.4063 21 6 438 2.5664 22 6 466 2.7305 23 6 517 3.0293 24 6 5673.3223 25 6 616 3.6094 26 6 666 3.9023 27 6 719 4.2129 28 6 772 4.523429 2 reserved 30 4 reserved 31 6 reserved

Table 1 MCS index for PUSCH with transform precoding and 64 QAM MCSIndex I_(MCS) Modulation Order Qm Target code Rate R x 1024 Spectralefficiency 0 q 240/ q 0.2344 1 q 314/ q 0.3066 2 2 193 0.3770 3 2 2510.4902 4 2 308 0.6016 5 2 379 0.7402 6 2 449 0.8770 7 2 526 1.0273 8 2602 1.1758 9 2 679 1.3262 10 4 340 1.3281 11 4 378 1.4766 12 4 4341.6953 13 4 490 1.9141 14 4 553 2.1602 15 4 616 2.4063 16 4 658 2.570317 6 466 2.7305 18 6 517 3.0293 19 6 567 3.3223 20 6 616 3.6094 21 6 6663.9023 22 6 719 4.2129 23 6 772 4.5234 24 6 822 4.8164 25 6 873 5.115226 6 910 5.3320 27 6 948 5.5547 28 q reserved 29 2 reserved 30 4reserved 31 6 reserved

Table 2 MCS index for PUSCH with transform precoding and 64 QAM MCSIndex I_(MCS) Modulation Order Q_(m) Target code Rate R x 1024 Spectralefficiency 0 q 60/q 0.0586 1 q 80/q 0.0781 2 q 100/q 0.0977 3 q 128/q0.1250 4 q 156/q 0.1523 5 q 198/q 0.1934 6 2 120 0.2344 7 2 157 0.3066 82 193 0.3770 9 2 251 0.4902 10 2 308 0.6016 11 2 379 0.7402 12 2 4490.8770 13 2 526 1.0273 14 2 602 1.1758 15 2 679 1.3262 16 4 378 1.476617 4 434 1.6953 18 4 490 1.9141 19 4 553 2.1602 20 4 616 2.4063 21 4 6582.5703 22 4 699 2.7305 23 4 772 3.0156 24 6 567 3.3223 25 6 616 3.609426 6 666 3.9023 27 6 772 4.5234 28 q reserved 29 2 reserved 30 4reserved 31 6 reserved

In some embodiments, the information regarding the updated set ofparameters in the physical layer control signal may include incrementalvalues for the updated parameters, such as a delta or offset value. Thedelta or offset values can be used to calculate an absolute value byadding the incremental value to, or subtracting it from, a previousvalue of the corresponding parameter as set in the RRC signal, or byincrementing or decrementing the index value of the previously usedparameter.

A set of indexes may be assigned to various combinations of parameters(e.g., MCS, frequency domain resource allocation, time domain resourceallocation) as shown in the tables below. In some embodiments, two ormore rows in the table may share a common frequency allocation or acommon MCS, as long as the other parameter is different.

Index frequencyDomainAllocation MCS 0 Bit string 1(size 18) IntegerA,(0...31) 1 Bit string 2(size 18) Integer B,(0...31) 2 Bit string3(size 18) Integer C,(0...31) 3 Bit string 4(size 18) Integer D,(0...31)4 Bit string 5(size 18) Integer E,(0...31) 5 Bit string 6(size 18)Integer F,(0...31) 6 Bit string 7(size 18) Integer G,(0...31) 7 Bitstring 8(size 18) Integer H,(0...31)

In some cases, two or more table rows might share a common frequencyallocation or a common MCS, as long as the other parameter (e.g. MCS orfrequency allocation) is different.

In some embodiments, a UE may determine the resource block assignment infrequency domain using the corresponding resource allocation field inthe detected PDCCH DCI or RRC signaling. There are two frequencyresource allocation types, as described below.

In uplink resource allocation of type 0, the resource block assignmentinformation includes a bitmap indicating the Resource Block Groups(RBGs) that are allocated to the scheduled UE. An RBG is a set ofconsecutive virtual resource blocks defined by higher layer parameterrbg-Size configured in pusch-Config and the size of the bandwidth partas defined in Table 6.1.2.2.1-1.

Table 6.1.2.2.1-1 Nominal RBG size P Carrier Bandwidth Part SizeConfiguration 1 Configuration 2 1 - 36 2 4 37-72 4 8 73 - 144 8 16 145 -275 16 16

The total number of RBGs (N_(RBG)) for a uplink bandwidth part i of size

N_(BWP,i)^(size)

PRBs is given by

N_(RBG) = ⌈(N_(BWP, i)^(size) + (N_(BWP, i)^(start)modP))/P⌉

where: the size of the first RBG is

RBG₀^(size) = P − N_(BWP, i)^(start)modP ;

the size of the last RBG is

RBG_(last)^(size) = (N_(BWP, i)^(start) + n_(BWP, i)^(size))modP

if

(N_(BWP, i)^(start) + N_(BWP, i)^(size))modP > 0

and P otherwise; and the size of all other RBG is P.

The bitmap is of size N_(RBG) bits with one bitmap bit per RBG such thateach RBG is addressable. The RBGs can be indexed in the order ofincreasing frequency of the bandwidth part and starting at the lowestfrequency. The order of RBG bitmap is such that RBG 0 to RBG ^(N) _(RBG)⁻¹ are mapped from MSB to LSB of the bitmap. The RBG is allocated to theUE if the corresponding bit value in the bitmap is 1, the RBG is notallocated to the UE otherwise. Here, ^(N) _(RBG) may be assumed to havea value of 18, although it may be another value.

Bit string 1 (size 18), for example can be 111100001010110010, whichmeans that the first RBG, 2^(nd), 3^(rd), 4^(th), 9^(th), 11^(th),13^(th), 14^(th) , and 17^(th) RBG are allocated to the UE.

Index DMRS sequence initialization or cycle shift MCS 0 0 IntegerA,(0...31) 1 1 Integer B,(0...31)

Regarding DMRS sequence initialization or cycle shift n_(SCID) ∈ {0,1} ,the quantity n_(SCID) ∈ {0,1} is indicated by signaling. DMRS sequencer(n) may be generated according to

$r(n) = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\left( {1 - 2 \cdot c\left( {2n} \right)} \right) + j\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\left( {1 - 2 \cdot c\left( {2n + 1} \right)} \right).$

where the pseudo-random sequence c(i) is defined as follows: genericpseudo-random sequences are defined by a length-31 Gold sequence. Theoutput sequence c(n) of length M_(PN ,) where n = 0,1,...,M_(PN) -1, isdefined by

c(n) = (x₁(n + N_(c)) + x₂(n + N_(c)))mod2

x₁(n + 31) = (x₁(n + 3) + x₁(n))mod2

x₂(n + 31) = (x₂(n + 3) + x₂(n + 2) + x₂(n + 1) + x₂(n))mod2

where N_(C) = 1600 and the first m-sequence x₁(n) is initialized withx₁(0) = 1,x₁(n) = 0,n = 1,2,...,30. The initialization of the secondm-sequence, x₂(n), is denoted by

$c_{\text{init}} = {\sum_{i = 0}^{30}{x_{2}(i) \cdot 2^{i}}}$

with the value depending on the application of the sequence. Thepseudo-random sequence generator is initialized with

$c_{\text{init}} = \left( \begin{array}{l}{2^{17}\left( {N_{\text{symb}}^{\text{slot}}n_{s,f}^{\mu} + l + 1} \right)\left( {2N_{\text{ID}}^{n_{\text{SCID}}} + 1} \right) +} \\{2N_{\text{ID}}^{n_{\text{SCID}}} + n_{\text{SCID}}}\end{array} \right)\text{mod 2}^{31}$

where l is the OFDM symbol number within the slot,

n_(s,f)^(μ)

is the slot number within a frame, and

N_(ID)⁰, N_(ID)¹ ∈ {0, 1, …65535}

are given by the higher-layer parameters scramblingIDO andscramblingID1, respectively, in the DMRS-UplinkConfig IE if provided andthe PUSCH is scheduled by DCI format 0_1 or by a PUSCH transmission witha configured grant;

N_(ID)⁰ ∈ {0, 1, …, 65535}

is given by the higher-layer parameter scramblingIDO in theDMRS-UplinkConfig IE if provided and the PUSCH is scheduled by DCIformat 0_0 with the CRC scrambled by C-RNTI, MCS-C-RNTI, or CS-RNTI;

N_(ID)^(n_(SCID)) = N_(ID)^(cell)

otherwise.

The bit width for this timeDomainAllocation can be determined as

⌈log₂(I)⌉

bits, where I is the number of entries in the higher layer parameterpusch-TimeDomainAllocationList if the higher layer parameter isconfigured; otherwise I is the number of entries in the default table.timeDomainAllocation as indicated includes SLIV, where the startingsymbol S is relative to the start of the slot, and the number ofconsecutive symbols L counting from the symbol S allocated for the PUSCHare determined from the start and length indicator SLIV of the indexedrow:

$\begin{array}{l}{\text{if}\left( {L - 1} \right) \leq 7\text{then}} \\{SLIV = 14 \cdot \left( {L - 1} \right) + S}\end{array}$

else

$\begin{array}{l}{SLIV = 14 \cdot \left( {14 - L + 1} \right) + \left( {14 - 1 - S} \right)} \\{\text{where}0 < L \leq 14 - S.}\end{array}$

The tables below shows example valid S and L combinations associatedwith a PUSCH/PDSCH mapping type, as well as example values fortimeDomainAllocation, frequencyDomainAllocation, and MCS.

PUSCH/PDSCH mapping type Normal cyclic prefix Extended cyclic prefix S LS+L S L S+L Type A 0 {4,...,14} {4,...,14} 0 {4,...,12} {4,...,12} TypeB {0,... ,13} {1,...,14} {1,...,14} {0,..., 11} {1,...,12} {1,...,12}Index timeDomainAllocation frequencyDomainAllocation MCS 1 SLIV1 Bitstring 1(size 18) Delat 1 2 SLIV2 Bit string 2(size 18) Delta 2 3 SLIV3Bit string 3(size 18) Delta 3 4 SLIV4 Bit string 4(size 18) Delta 4Index frequencyDomainAllocation MCS 1 Frequency offset 1 Delta 1 2Frequency offset 2 Delta 2 3 Frequency offset 3 Delta 3 4 Frequencyoffset 4 Delta 4

In some embodiments, resource configuration may be performed for DL SPSwithout DCI activation. In this case, at least one of the followingexisting parameters in DCI formats 1_0 or 1_1 in R15 can be configuredin an RRC signal: frequency domain resource assignment, time domainresource assignment, VRB-to-PRB mapping, PRB bundling size indicator,Rate matching indictor, MCS, redundancy version, ZP CSI-RS trigger totrigger aperiodic ZP CSI-RS, Downlink assignment index, SRS request, CBGtransmission information (CBGTI), CBG flushing out information (CBGFI),Antenna ports, DMRS sequence initialization.

In some embodiments, at least one of the following UL related parametersmay be configured in an RRC signal for DL SPS without DCI activation:PDSCH-to-HARQ feedback timing indicator, TPC command for scheduledPUCCH, and PUCCH resource indicator.

Furthermore, parameters that are currently configured by RRC, e.g.aggregationFactorDL (i.e. the number of repetitions) can be included inthe same RRC IE used to configure the DL SPS without DCI activation.

In some embodiments, at least one of the following parameters may beconfigured in an RRC signal for DL SPS without DCI activation:periodicity, new-RNTI, timedomainOffset, nrofHARQ-Processes andMCStable.

In some embodiments, a downlink power offset parameter may be configuredin an RRC signal for DL SPS without DCI activation. For example, thedownlink power offset parameter may use 1 bit, as defined in the tablebelow:

Downlink power offset field ^(δ) _(power-offset) ^([dB]) 0 -10log₁₀(2) 10

Inclusion of a downlink power offset parameter in the RRC signal allowsresource sharing in DL, which can support more UEs using anon-orthogonal multiple access (NoMA), or Multiple User SuperpositionTransmission (MUST), or a multi-user multiple-input, multiple-output(MIMO) scheme. Pre-defined paired UEs and far UE information forinterference cancellation reception at the near UE, e.g. powerallocation, MCS, DMRS, which can enable multiple UEs to share the sametime domain and frequency resources. Thus, low latency of each UE can beachieved because UEs can transmit their data and do not need to waituntil other UEs finish their transmission for a given time slot. Highspectrum efficiency of the whole system can be achieved as well.

In some embodiments, some or all of the following parameters may beconfigured in an RRC signal that includes a SPS resource configurationsignal such as the SPS-Config IE: frequency domain resource assignment,time domain resource assignment, VRB-to-PRB mapping, PRB bundling sizeindicator, rate matching indictor, MCS, redundancy version, ZP CSI-RStrigger to trigger aperiodic ZP CSI-RS, Downlink assignment index, SRSrequest, CBG transmission information (CBGTI), CBG flushing outinformation (CBGFI), antenna port(s), DMRS sequence initialization,PDSCH-to-HARQ feedback timing indicator, TPC command for scheduledPUCCH, PUCCH resource indicator, a number of repetitions, periodicity,whether HARQ ACK/NACK feedback or not, new-RNTI, timedomainOffset,nrofHARQ-Processes, MCS table, downlink power offset, and TBS.

In some embodiments, some or all of the following parameters may beconfigured in an RRC signal that includes a SPS resource configurationsignal such as the SPS-Config IE: VRB-to-PRB mapping, PRB bundling sizeindicator, Rate matching indictor, redundancy version, ZP CSI-RS triggerto trigger aperiodic ZP CSI-RS, downlink assignment index, SRS request,CBG transmission information (CBGTI), CBG flushing out information(CBGFI), DMRS sequence initialization, PDSCH-to-HARQ feedback timingindicator, TPC command for scheduled PUCCH, PUCCH resource indicator, anumber of repetitions, periodicity, whether HARQ ACK/NACK feedback ornot, new-RNTI, timedomainOffset, nrofHARQ-Processes, MCStable, downlinkpower offset, and TBS.

In alternative embodiments, parameters not included in the RRC signalcan be included in a physical layer control signaling, for example agroup DCI signal as described before. The group DCI signal can be anactivation DCI signal.

In some embodiments, some or all of the following parameters may beconfigured in an RRC signal that includes a SPS resource configurationsignal such as the SPS-Config IE: VRB-to-PRB mapping, PRB bundling sizeindicator, rate matching indictor, redundancy version, ZP CSI-RS triggerto trigger aperiodic ZP CSI-RS, downlink assignment index, SRS request,CBG transmission information (CBGTI), CBG flushing out information(CBGFI), antenna port(s), DMRS sequence initialization, periodicity,new-RNTI, timedomainOffset, nrofHARQ-Processes, MCStable, and TBS.

In alternative embodiments, parameters not included in the RRC signalcan be included in a physical layer control signaling, for example agroup DCI signal as described before or in a SPS PDSCH.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example method 400 performed by anED 110 such as a UE for a SPS or CG resource configuration in accordancewith an example embodiment.

At 402, the UE receives a radio resource control (RRC) or activation DCIsignal for SPS or CG transmission configuration.

At 404, the UE receives, through a physical layer channel, a physicallayer control signal including a value for one or more parameters fortransmission configuration. The one or more parameters may include, forexample, MCS or a frequency resource allocation.

At 406, the UE decodes a message sent in a physical downlink sharedchannel (PDSCH) or transmits a message through a physical uplink sharedchannel (PUSCH) based on at least one of the RRC signal and theactivation DCI signal, and the one or more parameters in the physicallayer control signal.

Although the present disclosure describes methods and processes withsteps in a certain order, one or more steps of the methods and processesmay be omitted or altered as appropriate. One or more steps may takeplace in an order other than that in which they are described, asappropriate.

Although the present disclosure is described, at least in part, in termsof methods, a person of ordinary skill in the art will understand thatthe present disclosure is also directed to the various components forperforming at least some of the aspects and features of the describedmethods, be it by way of hardware components, software or anycombination of the two. Accordingly, the technical solution of thepresent disclosure may be embodied in the form of a software product. Asuitable software product may be stored in a pre-recorded storage deviceor other similar non-volatile or non-transitory computer readablemedium, including DVDs, CD-ROMs, USB flash disk, a removable hard disk,or other storage media, for example. The software product includesinstructions tangibly stored thereon that enable a processing device(e.g., a personal computer, a server, or a network device) to executeexamples of the methods disclosed herein. The machine-executableinstructions may be in the form of code sequences, configurationinformation, or other data, which, when executed, cause a machine (e.g.,a processor or other processing device) to perform steps in a methodaccording to examples of the present disclosure.

All values and sub-ranges within disclosed ranges are also disclosed.Also, although the systems, devices and processes disclosed and shownherein may comprise a specific number of elements/components, thesystems, devices and assemblies could be modified to include additionalor fewer of such elements/components. For example, although any of theelements/components disclosed may be referenced as being singular, theembodiments disclosed herein could be modified to include a plurality ofsuch elements/components. The subject matter described herein intends tocover and embrace all suitable changes in technology.

Although a combination of features is shown in the illustratedembodiments, not all of them need to be combined to realize the benefitsof various embodiments of this disclosure. In other words, a system ormethod designed according to an embodiment of this disclosure will notnecessarily include all of the features shown in any one of the Figuresor all of the portions schematically shown in the Figures. Moreover,selected features of one example embodiment may be combined withselected features of other example embodiments.

Although this disclosure has been described with reference toillustrative embodiments, this description is not intended to beconstrued in a limiting sense. Various modifications and combinations ofthe illustrative embodiments, as well as other embodiments of thedisclosure, will be apparent to persons skilled in the art uponreference to the description. It is therefore intended that the appendedclaims encompass any such modifications or embodiments.

1. A method performed by a communication device, the method comprising:transmitting, to a user equipment (UE), a radio resource control (RRC)signal or activation downlink control information (DCI) signal forsemi-persistent scheduling (SPS) or configured grant (CG) transmissionconfiguration; and transmitting, to the UE, a physical layer controlsignal comprising an indication of one or more parameters for SPS or CGtransmission, the physical layer control signal comprising a CyclicRedundancy Check (CRC) portion that is scrambled with a Radio NetworkTemporary Identifier (RNTI) specifically for the physical layer controlsignal, the one or more parameters comprising at least one of amodulation and coding scheme (MCS) and a frequency resource allocation,wherein the physical layer control signal is a group-common physicalsignalling.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the MCS value is sent in amodulation and coding scheme field in the RRC signal or the activationDCI signal that determines a modulation order and a target code ratebased on a predefined table from a plurality of predefined tables,wherein the predefined table from the plurality of predefined tables isdetermined based on the MCS value in the RRC and activation DCI signal.3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the RRC signal and theactivation DCI signal, and the physical layer control signal are used bythe UE to decode a message sent in a physical downlink shared channel(PDSCH) or to transmit a message through a physical uplink sharedchannel (PUSCH).
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the RRC signalcomprises a downlink (DL) semi-persistent scheduling (SPS) configurationinformation element (IE) or an uplink (UL) configured grant (CG) IE. 5.The method of claim 1, wherein the physical layer control signalcomprises a plurality of blocks, wherein each of the plurality of blockscorresponds to a respective UE from a plurality of UEs, and comprises arespective indication for at least one parameter for the respective UE,or at least one indication that indicates a plurality of parameters forthe respective UE.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or moreparameters comprise at least one of the following parameters: timedomain resource allocation, number of antenna ports, DeModulationReference Signal (DMRS) sequence initialization, CSI request, downlinkpower offset, and transport block size (TBS), transmit power control(TPC) command for scheduled PUSCH, precoding information, a number oflayers, number of antenna ports, a time offset for transmissionopportunity.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication for theone or more parameters in the physical layer control signal comprisesone set from multiple sets of the one or more parameters, and whereinthe one set is for a selected available MCS, the selected available MCSbeing indicated by a number of bits in the RRC or the activation DCIsignal, the number of bits being less than another number of bits forindicating the multiple sets, the multiple sets being all available MCS.8. A communication device, comprising: a transceiver; and a processingunit coupled to the transceiver, the processing unit being configured toexecute instructions to cause the transceiver to: transmit to a userequipment (UE), a radio resource control (RRC) signal or activationdownlink control information (DCI) signal for semi-persistent scheduling(SPS) or configured grant (CG) transmission configuration; and transmitto the UE, a physical layer control signal comprising an indication ofone or more parameters for SPS or CG transmission, the physical layercontrol signal comprising a Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) portion thatis scrambled with a Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RNTI)specifically for the physical layer control signal, the one or moreparameters comprising at least one of a modulation and coding scheme(MCS) and a frequency resource allocation, wherein the physical layercontrol signal is a group-common physical signalling.
 9. Thecommunication device of claim 8, wherein the MCS value is sent in amodulation and coding scheme field in the RRC signal or the activationDCI signal that determines a modulation order and a target code ratebased on a predefined table from a plurality of predefined tables,wherein the predefined table from the plurality of predefined tables isdetermined based on the MCS value in the RRC and activation DCI signal.10. The communication device of claim 8, wherein at least one of the RRCsignal and the activation DCI signal, and the physical layer controlsignal are used by the UE to decode a message sent in a physicaldownlink shared channel (PDSCH) or to transmit a message through aphysical uplink shared channel (PUSCH).
 11. The communication device ofclaim 8, wherein the RRC signal comprises a downlink (DL)semi-persistent scheduling (SPS) configuration information element (IE)or an uplink (UL) configured grant (CG) IE.
 12. The communication deviceof claim 8, wherein the physical layer control signal comprises aplurality of blocks, wherein each of the plurality of blocks correspondsto a respective UE from a plurality of UEs, and comprises a respectiveindication for at least one parameter for the respective UE, or at leastone indication that indicates a plurality of parameters for therespective UE.
 13. The communication device of claim 8, wherein the oneor more parameters comprise at least one of the following parameters:time domain resource allocation, number of antenna ports, DeModulationReference Signal (DMRS) sequence initialization, CSI request, downlinkpower offset, and transport block size (TBS), transmit power control(TPC) command for scheduled PUSCH, precoding information, a number oflayers, number of antenna ports, a time offset for transmissionopportunity.
 14. The communication device of claim 8, wherein theindication for the one or more parameters in the physical layer controlsignal comprises one set from multiple sets of the one or moreparameters, and wherein the one set is for a selected available MCS, theselected available MCS being indicated by a number of bits in the RRC orthe activation DCI signal, the number of bits being less than anothernumber of bits for indicating the multiple sets, the multiple sets beingall available MCS.
 15. A method performed by a communication device, themethod comprising: receiving by a user equipment (UE), a radio resourcecontrol (RRC) signal or activation downlink control information (DCI)signal for semi-persistent scheduling (SPS) or configured grant (CG)transmission configuration; and receiving by the UE, a physical layercontrol signal comprising an indication of one or more parameters forSPS or CG transmission, the physical layer control signal comprising aCyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) portion that is scrambled with a RadioNetwork Temporary Identifier (RNTI) specifically for the physical layercontrol signal, the one or more parameters comprising at least one of amodulation and coding scheme (MCS) and a frequency resource allocation,wherein the physical layer control signal is a group-common physicalsignalling.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the physical layercontrol signal comprises a plurality of blocks, wherein each of theplurality of blocks corresponds to a respective UE from a plurality ofUEs, and comprises a respective indication for at least one parameterfor the respective UE, or at least one indication that indicates aplurality of parameters for the respective UE.
 17. The method of claim15, wherein the indication for the one or more parameters in thephysical layer control signal comprises one set from multiple sets ofthe one or more parameters, and wherein the one set is for a selectedavailable MCS, the selected available MCS being indicated by a number ofbits in the RRC or the activation DCI signal, the number of bits beingless than another number of bits for indicating the multiple sets, themultiple sets being all available MCS.
 18. A communication device,comprising: a transceiver; and a processing unit coupled to thetransceiver, the processing unit being configured to executeinstructions to cause the transceiver to: receive by a user equipment(UE), a radio resource control (RRC) signal or activation downlinkcontrol information (DCI) signal for semi-persistent scheduling (SPS) orconfigured grant (CG) transmission configuration; and receive by the UE,a physical layer control signal comprising an indication of one or moreparameters for SPS or CG transmission, the physical layer control signalcomprising a Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) portion that is scrambledwith a Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RNTI) specifically for thephysical layer control signal, the one or more parameters comprising atleast one of a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) and a frequencyresource allocation, wherein the physical layer control signal is agroup-common physical signalling.
 19. The communication device of claim18, wherein the physical layer control signal comprises a plurality ofblocks, wherein each of the plurality of blocks corresponds to arespective UE from a plurality of UEs, and comprises a respectiveindication for at least one parameter for the respective UE, or at leastone indication that indicates a plurality of parameters for therespective UE.
 20. The communication device of claim 18, wherein theindication for the one or more parameters in the physical layer controlsignal comprises one set from multiple sets of the one or moreparameters, and wherein the one set is for a selected available MCS, theselected available MCS being indicated by a number of bits in the RRC orthe activation DCI signal, the number of bits being less than anothernumber of bits for indicating the multiple sets, the multiple sets beingall available MCS.